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Ligatus's Overview

Total employees12
HeadquartersKöln (Cologne)
Founded2003

Ligatus GmbH was a leading European native advertising and performance marketing company, originally a subsidiary of Gruner + Jahr, which itself is part of Bertelsmann. Ligatus specialized in delivering high-quality, content-integrated advertising solutions for publishers and advertisers, focusing on premium environments and performance. In February 2019, Ligatus was acquired by Outbrain, a global content discovery and native advertising platform. The acquisition aimed to strengthen Outbrain's European presence and combine the strengths of both companies in the native advertising space. Ligatus's technology and network have since been integrated into Outbrain's offerings.

Where is Ligatus's Headquarters?

HQ Function

The headquarters in Cologne was the central hub for Ligatus's operations, including management, product development, sales strategy, and international coordination for its native advertising network across Europe.

Notable Features:

Likely a modern office space suited for a digital media and technology company, emphasizing collaborative workspaces and advanced technological infrastructure.

Work Culture:

As an ad-tech company within the Gruner + Jahr media group, the culture likely combined innovation, performance-driven metrics, and a dynamic approach to the evolving digital advertising landscape.

HQ Significance:

This location was pivotal for Ligatus's growth and establishment as a key player in the European native advertising market before becoming part of Outbrain.

Values Reflected in HQ: The headquarters would have reflected values such as innovation in ad-tech, quality in publisher partnerships, and performance for advertisers.

Location:

Prior to its acquisition by Outbrain, Ligatus GmbH had a strong presence across Europe, with dedicated offices and teams in key markets including Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, and Turkey. These offices supported local publishers and advertisers with tailored native advertising solutions. Following the acquisition, these operations and networks have been integrated into Outbrain's larger global infrastructure.

Street Address:

Christophstraße 19

City:

Köln (Cologne)

State/Province:

North Rhine-Westphalia

Country:

Germany

Ligatus's Global Presence

Paris, France

Address: Historical office address in Paris, specific street details vary.

Served as a key hub for Ligatus's activities in France and French-speaking regions, tailoring native ad solutions to local market needs.

Madrid, Spain

Address: Historical office address in Madrid, specific street details vary.

Key center for Ligatus in the Iberian Peninsula, driving growth and adoption of its native advertising platform.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Address: Historical office address in Amsterdam, specific street details vary.

Strategic location for serving the Dutch and Belgian markets, expanding Ligatus's European footprint.

Milan, Italy

Address: Historical office address in Milan, specific street details vary.

Served as the primary point of contact and operational center for Ligatus in Italy.

Buying Intent Signals for Ligatus

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Executive Team of Ligatus

As of April 2025, Ligatus' leadership includes:

Klaus Ludemann - Former CEO, Ligatus
Lars Hasselbach - Former COO/Managing Director, Ligatus
Julien Mosse - Former Chief Marketplace Officer / Managing Director Southern Europe & Benelux
Arne Wolter - Former Chief Digital Officer Gruner + Jahr (oversight role)

Investors of Ligatus

Ligatus has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Gruner + Jahr (Former Parent Company)
Bertelsmann (Former Ultimate Parent Company via Gruner + Jahr)
Outbrain Inc. (Acquirer, publicly traded as Nasdaq: OB)

Executive New Hires/Exits in the Last 12 Months

Hire0
Exits0

Significant executive news for Ligatus GmbH largely centers around its acquisition by Outbrain in 2019 and the subsequent integration of its leadership. As Ligatus is no longer an independent entity, recent executive changes would be within the Outbrain structure.

Departures

Klaus Ludemann, Transitioned out of active leadership role following the integration of Ligatus into Outbrain.

New Appointments:

N/A, No specific Ligatus-branded executive appointments in the last 12 months; leadership is integrated within Outbrain.

Technology (Tech Stack) used by Ligatus

Discover the tools Ligatus uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

Ligatus Email Formats and Examples

Historically, Ligatus GmbH, as part of Gruner + Jahr, likely used standard corporate email formats. Common formats included first initial followed by last name, or first name dot last name. Since the acquisition by Outbrain, communications would use Outbrain's email system.

f.last@ligatus.com or first.last@ligatus.com

Format

j.doe@ligatus.com or jane.doe@ligatus.com

Example

5 (These formats are historical. Ligatus.com domain may no longer be actively used for email or may redirect. For current contact, Outbrain's email formats should be used.)%

Success rate

News and media

Outbrain Press ReleaseFebruary 26, 2019

Outbrain Acquires Ligatus, Native Advertising Subsidiary of Gruner + Jahr, to Create a Native Advertising Powerhouse

Outbrain announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Ligatus, a leading European native advertising platform, from Gruner + Jahr, a Bertelsmann company. The acquisition aims to expand Outbrain’s European presence and strengthen its native technology offerings for publishers and advertisers....more

ExchangeWireMarch 31, 2019

Outbrain Completes Acquisition of Ligatus

Outbrain announced the completion of its acquisition of Ligatus. This strategic move combines Ligatus's strong publisher network in Europe with Outbrain's global scale and technology, creating a formidable native advertising solution....more

AdZineSeptember 10, 2018

Ligatus Expands Management Team: Appoints Julien Mosse as Chief Marketplace Officer

Ligatus appointed Julien Mosse as Chief Marketplace Officer and Managing Director Southern Europe & Benelux. This move was part of Ligatus's strategy to strengthen its market position and product offering prior to its acquisition....more

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